ICE consists of three directorates to accomplish the agency’s mission, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and Management and Administration (M&A).

ICE executes its mission through the enforcement of more than 400 federal statutes, and focuses on smart immigration enforcement, preventing terrorism and combating the illegal movement of people and trade. (read more)

Learn more about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, including facts about investigations, immigration enforcement and removal operations, and management and administration information. (read more)

To ensure openness and transparency and to better serve those seeking more information about ICE and its operations, the agency centralized processing of all ICE-related Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests in a single office.

CHRISTIANSTED, U.S. Virgin Islands - A 33-year-old citizen of the Dominican Republic who resides in Caguas, Puerto Rico, was arrested by special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Sunday in Christiansted, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), following a routine traffic stop by the USVI Police Department that led to the discovery of 202 bricks of cocaine with an estimated weight of 228 kilograms and an approximate street value of more than $6 million.

The vehicle driven by Miguel Pascual was stopped by the USVI police officers in Christiansted for a traffic violation.

Pascual consented to a search of the vehicle, which revealed seven large bags containing brick-like objects in the cargo area and back seat of the vehicle. The objects later tested positive for cocaine.

USVI police officers notified ICE HSI special agents who responded to the scene, arrested Pascual, and seized the 228 kilograms of cocaine.

"Through these arrests and seizures we are sending a clear message that the U.S. Virgin Islands will not be a safe haven for criminals looking to ship drugs into USVI and Puerto Rico," said Roberto Escobar-Vargas, acting special agent in charge of ICE HSI in San Juan. "HSI and its federal and local partners are committed to working together to stop the flow of illegal narcotics into the USVI and Puerto Rico."

Pascual is in ICE custody awaiting the outcome of his criminal case.

Related Information

Media Inquiries

For media inquiries about ICE activities, operations, or policies, contact the ICE Office of Public Affairs at (202) 732-4242.